On-Site Rhode Island Sale Hosts 300 Enthusiastic Buyers

Cherry tall chest, $5,000.

By Rita Easton

LITTLE COMPTON, R.I. -- Gustave J.S. White Co. held an August 28 auction on the premises of the Hutchins house at 27 Sakonnet Point Road. The house, barn and guesthouse were built in 1918, and all of the articles offered have been on the property for several generations.

Three hundred enthusiastic people attended the event, which was held under a tent on the lawn.

Fetching the starring bid of $5,250, a two over three full length drawers cherry chest on an ogee bracket base was purchased by a retail buyer.

A cherry tall chest, three drawers over five full length drawers, also on an ogee bracket base, made $5,000; a Kuba prayer rug in excellent condition, 28 inches by 6 feet, realized $3,300, going to the trade, the lot described by Mike Corcoran of the gallery as "museum quality."

Model of the "China," $2,400.

A three-mast model of the ship China, with overall length of 37 inches, having whalebone appointments, brought $2,400, going to a collector; and a walnut drop leaf table on which the surface length had possibly been shortened sold for $3,750.

A cherry Pembroke table with cylindrical tapered legs was purchased by a private buyer at $1,000; an Arts and Crafts oak corner cabinet with a single 16-light door sold to a retail buyer at $450. An Arts and Crafts oak stool with circular surface reached $550; a campaign chest with fall front and birch interior veneers achieved $3,500; and an oil on canvas by Wesley Webster, 14 by 18 inches, depicting a haying scene, went out at $600.

Paintings by Marian Parkhurst Sloane garnered $1,000 for an oil on board painting measuring 10 by 14 inches depicting a river scene with mountains, and $800 for an oil on board of Vermont hills, also 10 by 14 inches, both purchased by dealer Ellen Neily. A 21-inch-high reverse-painted lamp with lithopane shade achieved $700; a bronze 22-inch-long walking elephant, a modern example made in China, did $400. A pair of dark green painted cabinets standing on tapered, fluted legs, with white painted swags holding oval medallions on the cabinet sides, went to a Newport dealer for $1,600 for the pair.

A Hardy and Hayes sterling silver Art Deco bowl reached $1,100; an Old Chelsea realistic porcelain clam that opened on a hinge, 31/2 inches across, did $1,500. A five-piece bedroom set painted green realized $1,300; three Stickley copper ashtrays reached $400 for the group; a William and Mary-style oak lowboy with rope turned legs fetched $600. Twelve Dresden cups and saucers did $850; and a redware butter churn, seven inches high, reached $800 for the miniature.

A Nantucket basket with some damage made $300; a cast-iron hall tree realized $600; a pair of sterling silver candlesticks sold for $350; a Tiffany sterling silver chocolate pot, 31/2 gills, made $350. Four pieces of Canton, two small bowls and a medium bowl, and a saucer went out for $325, sold as one lot; and two Chinese wedding boxes, papered with Chinese symbols, reached $175 and $300.

"The weather was good," noted Corcoran, "the crowd was good, and it was a great place to hold a sale. [A] lot of Southern people, private people, dealers [attended]."

Prices quoted do not reflect a 15 percent buyer's premium.